It’s that time of year when we dress up our children as their favorite characters and let them run from house to house, asking for candy. But, I have mixed feelings on this. 

Here is why: we spend all of our time telling our children to not take candy from strangers or talk to strangers, but then this one night of the year, we do the complete opposite. “Here, put on this mask and run up to the house and say, ‘Trick-or-treat,’ and hold your bag out then they (I don’t even know who they are) will give you candy.” 

It seems a bit off in this day and age. I can’t help but wonder what’s in the candy or that my neighbor may pull my kid into the house. On the other hand, when I grew up, trick-or-treating didn’t start until it was dark (seems today it’s over before it even gets dark). We ran from house to house and didn’t have our parents with us since they stayed home to pass out candy. Now we have trucks pulling trailers, so that kids and parents are together and no one has to walk. 

Each neighborhood has a mix of homes that still have children come to the door and others have set up a table at the end of the driveway. 

I like the table at the end of the driveway, and I like the families together, but I think a walk for some candy wouldn’t hurt anyone. As for dressing up the kids, I’m the dad that dresses up with them. After all, we are a family, and it’s a night to have fun. 

So, let’s meet in the middle. I will walk with my children and dress up if you set up a table in the driveway. We’ll all walk up together and talk. I’m not sending my child to some stranger’s house to get candy. This way, I’ll get a chance to actually meet and talk to some of my neighbors. As they say, it takes a village to raise a child, and I think it’s time we get to know some of those in our village. 

Stay safe.